#27 Perler and 8-bits

I've had recent bit of inspiration and decided to try my hand at some perler bead work. I've done a couple of things before based on 8-bit characters from Super Mario 2 and despite the time it takes to set up the beads the stuff usually comes out looking really nice. My current idea is to make coaster sets based on a variety of games. I've already picked out the games and the sprites I want to use. The coasters will be 20 pixels by 20 pixels. I'm going to start with one of the games and hopefully that will improve the speed I work at and my skill at melting the beads.

#26 Sketchup!

I've started using Sketchup this semester for my 103 class and after messing around with it I've grasped the most basic of concepts. It is an easy to use program with respectable learning curve. I was at work the other day talking to my friend Omar and he was talking about a frame he was trying to make and I figured since I am also taking a woodshop class I might be able to make one. I also thought it would be a good idea to test out my Sktechup skills and create a 3D mock-up to see how things would fit together. I haven't completed it yet there are some splines to add in and possibly adjust the internal edge for the spline cuts on the corners. As it is now I think it looks pretty decent. Here's a link, I'm still learning about the upload model option. I thought it would put it into the 3D warehouse but apparently it put it in with the Google earth stuff...

*correction, it uploaded to the right place :)

#25 A test research blog

So I did some reading Sam Maloof. A woodworker of the highest skill from what I have seen. Here is the rough stuff I have typed up based on what I've read and the questions from my professor. I'll add some pics once I finalize it.
- Connections and such are not overly done and seem to be made with as few additional pieces as possible.

#24 another semester starts...

Back in school and hopefully all the paperwork I turn in allows me to fulfill all the req's that keep popping up for graduation though that is neither here nor there as the point of this post is something entirely different as its focus is to allow me to keep a list of artists I am supposed to choose from to research for my Art168 class. So here are the names:

#23: Wild China

It's Saturday morning and my girlfriend put on this special to watch and just the intro was a crazy montage of environments and things that are in Chine. She then says that it is no wonder they have such a diverse, rich folklore, they live in a country that has all kinds of crazy landscapes and stuff. I thought it was funny and thought it should be noted someplace. I do have to agree though, they also have some kickass landscape paintings from the the early centuries, I forget which specifically though I recommend to anyone to check out Chinese landscapes paintings.

Post #22 The 40k symbol project

Well here is the before and after shots of the 40k army symbol project I have been working on for the past few weeks. After finally getting them cast in bronze I was met with disappointment due to some of the symbols not taking the bronze, five of them were completely unusable and the rest have a weird film on them that makes them look burnt. Following are the shots of the symbols cut out fo the styrene followed by the the bronze casts.

Post #21: mixed emoticons

Wow, busy past few days. Cooking, school, banking stuff. Most of everything I had going on has been resolved to some extent. I cooked this and this and even this, so I've been learning stuff like not to have too many burners going at once and definitely know the recipe before getting started. I'd post up pics but after getting it all done and such I'm pretty tired and just want to eat.

Post #20:ugh, what a day...

Found an alarming piece of info today: My cash inflow is less than the outflow. This weekend will see me intensify my job search. I also have to make a stop to get a quote for outsourcing my casting project, I said all this in the last post but seeing what my funds look like (a dessicated corpse) makes it a lot harder to go out and spend money especially when I could have taken care of some of it in class. I'm hoping the size of my forms will make it relatively cheap to cast. If anything I can just get the ones I want done now and when I have more money get the rest taken care of at a later time.

Post #19: Food....

So my girlfriend found this website where a woman, Margie Slivinske, puts up a week's worth of recipes along with a grocery list, it is on the San Jose Examiner site. They are really good meals and I'm not the greatest of chefs but we've just been doubling the ingredients and it provides more than enough food for two people. So far I've made this, this and this. Good stuff so far and nothings been burnt too badly!

Not much else going on today. With a little help I've managed to put together a Sisters of Battle army symbol for my "secret" project and will hopefully have it all done in a few weeks, the casting that is and then it is on to mold making. Unfortunately it is Spring Break next week so I'm going with an outside entity to get my forms cast. I'll try and post some pics of what I've carved out later today/this week. Just as a little in-progress post. I've found that sawing plasti-card (sheet-styrene) is not much easier than thin sheets of metal, same problems come up regarding heat and the blades snapping on the jeweler saw.

Ideas...

Well, with any luck I am nearing the end of my scholastic career. This summer I am going to make a concentrated effort to use flash more and get down to actual sculpting. I want to try my hand and making small scale figures, 25mm or so. I'll probably try a little larger than that at first or maybe just try my hand at making individual pieces and then assembly them. I also plan to further my mold making knowledge as I want to make my own rtv (room temperature vulcanizing) rubber molds.

I am also looking into internships and jobs for the summer...crossing my fingers.

Rawr, bfa project idea

So the idea I have for my bfa show/project revolves around found art and trash art. I've put some stuff down on paper and the basics involve combining the two into three types of pieces (which I will clarify later).  I am hoping to get people to submit objects they own to me for part of my show and I hope to find things in garage sales and similar situations for the other aspects of what I plan. I'm doing research into various artists and trying to find someone who has done something similar that I can use a  starting off point.
Two artists so far are Jeff Koons and Man Ray. I've seen a few of their works and believe that I can use some of the stuff they have done as a basis for my project and how to expand on it. I'm going to hopefully get to school early tomorrow to meet with my adviser and get her thoughts on this.
Here's a link to the found art wiki page. It also has links to he artists I've named above as well as many other artists who have done found art.
Found art

Yikes! New things!

Well, it has been some time since my last post (par for the course). I have some neat stuff to start off with.

The second to last project for one of my classes last semester was about re-creating what we thought was the thought process and system used by the artist in the creation of their art. So I'm posting up the pictures I was lucky to have created for me in this endeavor (Thanks again O!).
Here they are, showcasing the main character, her ride, story setting, secondary characters, the agency they work for and finally the mysterious antagonist.